Tom Southwell Q & A

[Tom Southwell]

[SKIN JOB 66]

[SKIN JOB 66]

[joberg]

Tom, working on the GodFather 2 must've been special and Dick Smith, wow, that man worked on a lot of known films for sure and living on the same street as you did is certainly freaky for sure! (what are the odds on that one?)

I know you worked on Meteor with Nathalie Wood; how was that experience?

Disturbia; liked the movie and when I was in Stockholm in 2000 I entered a little restaurant to eat something and went to the back (less people), David Morse was eating by himself at one of the table.
I looked at him and he probably new I'd recognized him, but I didn't say anything and proceeded to eat my open face sandwich.
Then I put two and two together: he was shooting "Dancer In The Dark" at the time.

Norman Rockwell...what can I say, fantastic drawings/paintings and the whole set-up of many of his works is so humorous and detailed.

[Tom Southwell]

These are my room mates in art school, but behind them is my painting of Natalie Wood. As an assignment to teach us the value of using "the grid method" of enlarging a sketch or photo I chose a newspaper photo of Natalie's face (which I blew up to 4 feet by 4 feet). I was surprised how well the technique worked, and had that face staring back at me for the next 3 years.

Jump seven years...
and I'm designing and painting a NASA type mural for Meteor (seen behind Sean Connery) when I get hired to hand Natalie her props every morning, and I get to stare into those eyes in person.
(chills and goose bumps) And then to loose her and work on Brainstorm was another freaky moment.TS


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I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

[joberg]

Thanks for the stories Tom...life's coincidences have a way to always dazzle us with such incredible hard to describe feelings.

That's why the real definition is from Medieval Latin meaning: falling together.

[Tom Southwell]

Joberg,
The goose bumps from Disturbia came when we arrived at Paramount
Studios on day one. Disturbia is loosely based on Hitchcock's
Rear Window. Which was all shot on one stage at Paramount.
When we got to the stage they were giving us to use they had a
big photo of the Rear Window set on an easel.

Yes this is the Rear Window stage.

Which is also the stage Norma Desmond and
Cecil B. DeMille walk on in Sunset Blvd.

Are you feeling the chills yet?

And David Morse was a joy to work with and watch create a
riveting character.
TS


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I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

[Staar]

Heaven's above Tom, this thread just keeps on giving.. Many thanks for sharing so generously sir we are truly fortunate

SKIN JOB 66 you're quite right. George has many Rockwell's (as well as Mucha, Parrish etc. etc. etc) at the Ranch and they will be rotated for new/different one's from time to time. Interestingly, the drawing he has of the teacher - that's hanging in one of the boardrooms - came close to being badly damaged along with other priceless artworks when there was a fire in that room earlier last year.











Between all of his facilities, George has the most astonishing collection of originals and its a privilege to have as him such a strong champion of the artist.

Regards
MARK
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[joberg]

"Are you feeling the chills yet"...I sure do Tom Again, coming to a set with so much history and having that picture of the "Rear Window" set is unbelievable! And "Sunset Bvld", another classic

Staar, thanks for the pictures of the Ranch; I didn't know George Lucas was such a fan/collector of Norman Rockwell's paintings

[Replicant 13]

As an aspiring artist, who couldn't grow up in the 50's and 60's without Disney and Rockwell as major influences.

I recall Rockwell once said he did not consider himself "an artist", but rather an illustrator, because he relied on photography and projection to build his compositions and help to meet deadlines - much as Drew Struzan and other contemporary artists have.

Oh, if it were only THAT simple.

Amazing stories, Tom. And amazing collection. I envy those who have seen any of it. - R13
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Gosh, you've really got some nice toys here . . .

[Tom Southwell]

Replicant 13,
A major retrospective on Norman Rockwell was in Brooklyn New York not far from my art school when I was there. Again, seeing these works up close, and personal, you could compare with the Rembrants we could see at local art museums. And Vermeer's ( who likely used a form of a camera ) are also of note. I respect Rockwell's personal statement. However the same could be said for Michaelangelo, DaVinci, Edward Hopper, Parrish and others.

Even in the '50's when you hired Rockwell to do a cover, sell a soft drink, inspire the Boy Scouts, or illustrate a Mark Twain classic, you expect a slice of Americana, and a slice of Rockwell art. His body of work places him beside artists as well as the best of illustrators. Slowly museums realize this but can they get originals away from Lucas and Spielberg? ...sometimes.

The point of the Spielberg Lucas book and exhibition was Rockwell's influence on them as a visual storyteller. In a single image Rockwell would: set the stage, cast the characters, costume them, compose the shot, light the scene, explain the conflict, and expect your reaction.

The connection of his work to cinema and preproduction art or as you say illustration is clear and I guess that is why it should fit in this thread.
TS
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I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

[Tom Southwell]

Shortly after art school I did this drawing for my in-laws Christmas card,
where I put his head on a drawing based on a Rockwell magazine cover.
My signature was my tip of the hat to Norman. He signed my huge
Rockwell book which came out about 1970.
He used to live in my home town.
TS
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I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

[joberg]

Excellent drawing Tom ...speaking of Rockwell, his collection of photos he took to compose his paintings are also astonishing (more than 20000 pics).
His compositions and stories are quite unique for sure.

[Replicant 13]

Although Rockwell saw himself as "an illustrator" - for whatever reason - I have always held him and this works, from sketches to paintings in the highest regard. My mother introduced me to his work as a child, when I was just beginning to draw more seriously. To have a book signed in person by him would have been a dream.

I was fascinated when I learned his methods, saw the photos and found that he used so many of his local friends as subjects, but this is perhaps my favorite -



I see his influence on so many artists, and the cinema. One could only imagine what he might have done for the movies had he been involved like some of the later artists like Peak, Amsel or Struzan.

Nice imitation BTW, Tom! Don't they say it's "the sincerest form of flattery"? - R13
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Gosh, you've really got some nice toys here . . .

[SKIN JOB 66]

Great drawing in the style of Norman Rockwell, Tom !!!

You are so lucky to have met him in person... WOW !



(I would have personally loved to meet J.C. Leyendecker)

Fred
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THE FUTURE IS A THING OF THE PAST

[Staar]

Beautiful drawing Tom - bravo mate!

Cheers for sharing.

Highest regards
MARK
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[Tom Southwell]

Fred,
I never met Mr Rockwell.
I too, would have loved to meet him.
One Christmas (1970?) I got that great big Rockwell book as a gift from my parents ( my big gift from the two of them). It has the triple self portrait you see above on the cover. After Christmas I was strolling down Madison Avenue in Manhattan when a Norman Rockwell original caught my eye.

In the windows of an art gallery were Rockwell's four freedoms. These were the original paintings, oil on big canvas. So I stood transfixed studying these for well over 30 minutes. Then the owner came out. " We have others inside, would you like to see them?" There were even more inside and he could tell I was a big fan. I said I was an art student and just got his big book. He took me in the back and showed stacks of limited edition prints Norman would sign next week. "Would you like him to sign your book?"

So I brought him my book and Norman Rockwell signed it!
Lucky me, huh?
TS
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I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

[joberg]

Lucky indeed!

[Tom Southwell]

Here is that museum catalog I spoke of. Loads of pictures including the lesser known black and white drawings that are every bit as fussy as his finished oils. (where he claims he has worked out all the composition problems)

And joberg,
Norman did do "some" movie poster work.

and thanks for the compliments guys (Skin Job, Joberg, Staar, Replicant, et al)

and FRED,
My high school was RIGHT NEXT TO J C LEYENDECKERS HOUSE !!!!!
on Mount Tom Road, New Rochelle, New York !!!!!!!!
(though I didn't know it at the time and never met him) But I could stand at the art room door and toss a tennis ball and hit his garage door.
If you have the JCL book, the photo of the house is in the back with the address.
TS
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I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...

[Staar]

Now that we have completely derailed this thread..

I have that book as well Tom. It was given to me when I was at Lucasfilm recently and its a great read and terrific resource.

You might all know fella's that George is setting up the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum at the Presidio (http://www.presidio.gov/about/Documents/11_George%20Lucas.pdf) - near Lucasfilm and the new Disney Museum - where he intends to display most of his personal collection including his Rockwell, Parrish, Brunner, Leyendecker et al artworks.

Regards
MARK
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